Juan Manuel Santos, who was sworn in for a second term as president of Colombia on Thursday, campaigned for reelection on his vision of ending the country’s decades-long civil conflict and negotiating peace with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group. But the country is so divided over the peace talks that Santos actually finished second in the first round of voting. Santos met with The Washington Post’s Lally Weymouth just before his inauguration to discuss the prospects for peace and the war on drugs.

The Pacific Alliance is achieving significant results. Three years ago, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru decided to move toward deeper economic and commercial integration. The effort was based on our common belief that the free movement of people, goods, services and capital can help us achieve greater welfare and social inclusion for our citizens.

When Governor Deval Patrick announced a trade mission to Colombia in 2013, it may have taken some in Massachusetts by surprise. For those who think that Colombia — once synonymous with drug cartels and criminal networks — is still in a state of paralysis, the idea of a coalition of business, academic, and government leaders visiting my country likely came with consternation and skepticism. But the reality today is that Colombia is a different place than it was just 15 years ago.

The world is mired in insurgencies, with the rise of ISIS in the Middle East, the persistence of Russian-backed rebels in Ukraine, and the continuing attacks of Boko Haram and Al Shabab in Africa. But at least one seemingly intractable guerrilla war — Latin America’s longest — may be coming to an end. Colombia is poised to reach a negotiated end after 50 years of fighting against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the Marxist-Leninist insurgent group known by the acronym FARC. Laudable on their own terms, these talks also shed light on the social changes and negotiating strategies it might take to end other civil wars around the world.

Boston, MA – This week Colombian Ambassador to the United States Luis Carlos Villegas visited cities and towns throughout New England to promote the expansion of business, investment and cultural ties between Colombia and the region. In addition, during his visit, the Boston City Council and its counterpart organization, the Council of Medellín, announced their intent to make Boston and Medellín sister cities.

In its announcement, the Council of Medellín stated: “The Council of Medellín manifests the interest of establishing the city of Boston of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America, as a sister city of Medellín in the Department of Antioquia, Republic of Colombia. [A partnership] that may lead to permanent goals for collaboration in the financial, cultural, social, university, science, technical and business field, as well as a common international solidarity.” In its resolution, the Boston City Council echoed this message and also noted, “The City of Medellín, Antioquia, Republic of Colombia, is a city of 2.5 million people, which has many similarities and shares a common bond with the city of Boston.”

“Our two cities are leaders in the area of innovation and technology, and we are excited to launch this newest phase of our partnership. Strengthening the ties that bind Medellín and Boston, and more broadly Colombia and New England, is critical to our shared goals to increase economic growth and create jobs,” said Ambassador Villegas. “Colombia has experienced record levels of investment and growth, and key to our success has been the expansion of not only our commercial ties throughout the world and across the United States, but also building common ground on issues like innovation and technology, education and culture.”

In meetings with government officials and business leaders in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the Ambassador discussed the many opportunities that exist in Colombia for local companies and industries, with a particular focus on the transportation, technology, innovation and banking sectors. The Ambassador’s visit, which began on Monday and concluded yesterday afternoon, is part of his months-long effort to visit all 12 U.S. cities where Colombia has consulates. The visits have two primary objectives – to maximize outreach to Colombians in the United States, as well as to raise awareness about the realities of today’s Colombia, including the country’s vibrant environment for doing business.

Here are the highlights of his visit:

 Monday, September 8: The Ambassador spoke with students and academic leaders at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and then met with members of the Colombian community living in Central Falls and Pawtucket, Rhode Island. While in Central Falls, Ambassador Villegas met with Mayor James Diossa and discussed issues of importance to the local Colombian community, as well as strategies to expand commercial ties. Following his visit to Rhode Island, the Ambassador participated in a meeting with the New England Association for Colombian Children, a non-profit organization that supports social initiatives for local Colombian youth.

 Tuesday, September 9: As a follow-up to the February 2013 Massachusetts–Colombia Innovation Partnership Mission, Ambassador Villegas met with Governor Deval Patrick, who led the delegation of the commonwealth’s leading business, academic and government officials. The trade mission has already helped to increase opportunities for entrepreneurship. For example, Innpulsa Colombia and MassChallenge join forces to run intensive boot camps for Colombian entrepreneurs annually, and last year five Colombian startups were accepted into the MassChallenge accelerator. With a focus on innovation, the Ambassador also spoke with the Governor about Colombia’s Vive Digital (Live Digital) II Plan – a $10 billion nationwide effort to propel Colombia forward in becoming a world leader in the development of applications to reduce poverty and increase transparency and efficiency in government. The Ambassador also met with leaders of MassTech and the Clean Energy Center and Life Sciences Center, as well as with the Associated Industries of Massachusetts and MassPort.

 Wednesday, September 10: The Ambassador’s visit concluded with a series of meetings, including with John Barros, Chief of Economic Development for the city of Boston, and startups at MassChallenge. He also spoke before a group of business leaders during an investment lunch organized by Proexport, Colombia’s export, tourism and foreign investment agency.

The City of Eternal Spring creates economic growth supported by a modern, effective and flexible IT infrastructure. Software AG (FRA: SOW) acknowledged today multiple awards received by Medellin, Colombia’s second largest city, in regenerating the municipality and the role IT played in driving economic growth and social inclusion. Amongst other awards, Medellin was acknowledged as “Innovative City of the Year” by the Urban Land Institute and received the United Nations sustainable transport award.

On a Saturday afternoon in Bogotá’s upscale Parque de la 93 neighborhood, a line of people extends out the front door of the country's first Starbucks. The cafe, a three floor, 2,700-square-foot space, opened just last month and is an impressive celebration of Colombian coffee. It’s the first Starbucks in the world to serve only locally sourced beans, offered in five varieties. A 19-foot mural, painted in coffee pigment and acrylic by Colombian artist Luis Carlos Cifuentes, depicts the brand’s Siren mermaid, swimming underneath the first shipment of Colombian coffee that the company ordered in 1971.

… Santa Marta, Colombia, has been my home for the past two and a half years, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I arrived on a whim looking for new adventures and ended up staying, having fallen deeply in love with Colombia(ns) and its (their) magical charm.

From afar, Cartagena’s skyline is deceptive. Its white towers rise above the Caribbean from a peninsula of tan sand and concrete, making it look like a bigger, beachier metropolis than it is. But with fewer than a million people, Cartagena is a sliver of the size of Rio de Janeiro or Los Angeles.

Technology must be leveraged as a key tool for fighting poverty and helping spur businesses that can boost the social inclusion of very low-income Colombians, who make up 30.6 percent of the population, the deputy information and communications technology minister said.

ARRIVING in the one-time murder capital of the world is far less terrifying than expected. My first, breathtaking, taste of the new Medellin is from the 17th-storey rooftop bar Envy, its glass walls framing a valley of skyscrapers glimmering against the lofty silhouettes of the lower Andes. This sparkling amphitheatre looks like a vast fireworks display, frozen in mid air.

Cement company Argos became the first national business in Colombia’s history to win the prestigious Social Responsibility Award, recognizing the company’s “successful implementation of activities that generate positive effects in society, the economy, and the environment.”

Once they’ve cracked Brazil and Mexico, many fashion executives are now looking to Colombia, South America’s third biggest economy, to help boost their balance sheets as the country shakes off its violent image.

Colombia’s avocado industry could double over the next decade and offer strong competition to the likes of Chile and Peru should it gain access to the U.S. market, according to global producer and exporter Westfalia.

Did You Know

Colombia was unanimously elected on October 12, 2010, as a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the 2011-2012 term. Colombia will chair the UN Security Council in July 2012.